Hlonipha and the rural Zulu woman

Abstract

abstract Against the background of South Africa's Constitution which sensibly provides for the linguistic, cultural, religious and gender rights of every citizen, this Briefing examines the custom of Hlonipha in contemporary rural Zulu society and its ramifications for Zulu women. Despite the Constitution's copious commitment to gender-equality, much of South Africa's rural society remains largely patriarchal. Sadly, many South Africans are not quite ready for the progressive state of their Constitution. And the Constitution itself is not flawless either as several principles spelt out in different clauses are in profound conflict with each other. Closely examined, it exhibits discrepancies between the areas of women's rights and cultural rights. The urban-rural dichotomy creates potential for conflict as regards gender issues, within the same ethno-linguistic groups, in this case isiZulu-speakers in KwaZulu-Natal. We explore whether and how traditionalist interpretations of the customary behaviour of respect {ukuhlonipha translated to respect) and the linguistic politeness register associated with it (isiHlonipho. translated language of respect) may disadvantage women in their everyday lives. On the basis of recent empirical data collected in the northern area of rural KwaZulu-Natal it is argued that many rural Zulu people maintain a patriarchal and primordially perceived cultural system which in the context of hlonipha involves the disempowerment of women. It is argued that the traditionalist interpretations and executions of the custom of hlonipha present a challenge to the constitutional gender-equality rights of women in the post-apartheid state and as such could be seen to be in contradiction with the Bill of Rights.